History

Constitution USA with Peter Sagal

Peter Sagal, host of NPR's "Wait Wait Don't Tell Me!" travels across the country to find out where the U.S. Constitution lives, how it works and how it doesn't, how it unites us as a nation, and how it has nearly torn us apart.

Built to Last

52m 40s

In this last episode, Sagal travels to Iceland, where after the country’s economic collapse, leaders decided to create a new constitution, looking to the U.S. Constitution for inspiration. This prompts Sagal to consider why our own founding document has lasted more than 225 years.

Episodes

  • Built to Last: asset-mezzanine-16x9

    Built to Last

    S1 E4 - 52m 40s

    In this last episode, Sagal travels to Iceland, where after the country’s economic collapse, leaders decided to create a new constitution, looking to the U.S. Constitution for inspiration. This prompts Sagal to consider why our own founding document has lasted more than 225 years.

  • Created Equal: asset-mezzanine-16x9

    Created Equal

    S1 E3 - 53m 11s

    The high ideals of the Declaration of Independence that “all men are created equal” didn’t make it into the Constitution in 1787. It took three-quarters of a century, and a bloody civil war, before the Fourteenth Amendment of 1868 made equality a constitutional right and gave the federal government the power to enforce it.

  • It's a Free Country: asset-mezzanine-16x9

    It's a Free Country

    S1 E2 - 53m 10s

    Ask Americans what the Constitution’s most important feature is and most will say it’s the guarantees of liberty enshrined in the Bill of Rights. In this episode, Sagal explores the history of the Bill of Rights and addresses several stories — ripped from the headlines — involving freedom of speech, freedom of religion and right to privacy.

  • A More Perfect Union: asset-mezzanine-16x9

    A More Perfect Union

    S1 E1 - 53m 10s

    Breathing new life into the traditional civics lesson, Peter Sagal (host of NPR’s “Wait, Wait … Don’t Tell Me”) travels across the country on a Harley Davidson to find out where the U.S. Constitution lives, how it works and how it doesn’t; how it unites us as a nation and how it has nearly torn us apart.

Extras + Features

  • The Long View: asset-mezzanine-16x9

    The Long View

    S1 - 3m 6s

    Historians Richard Beeman and Akhil Amar explain how the Constitution's ability to change.

  • Equal Protection - part I: asset-mezzanine-16x9

    Equal Protection…part I

    S1 - 3m 14s

    Does the 14th Amendment protect the right to same sex marriage? Legal scholar Robert George explains his thoughts.

  • Too Much Power: asset-mezzanine-16x9

    Too Much Power

    S1 - 3m 52s

    Learn about how Watergate tested the Constitution's system to balance power.

  • Affirmative Action: asset-mezzanine-16x9

    Affirmative Action

    S1 - 3m 56s

    Affirmative action can sometimes reduce opportunities for others, learn more in this clip.

  • Framework: asset-mezzanine-16x9

    Framework

    S1 - 2m 39s

    Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O'Connor explains the steps to understanding law and the role of the supreme court.

  • Congressional Gridlock, can it be good?: asset-mezzanine-16x9

    Congressional Gridlock, can it be good?

    S1 - 1m 42s

    Yale professor Akhil Amar talks about Congressional gridlock. Did the framers have this in mind when they drafted the Constitution? Can gridlock be good?

  • What are the duties of the U.S. president?: asset-mezzanine-16x9

    What are the duties of the U.S. president?

    S1 - 1m 26s

    Historian Rick Beeman shares some insight behind the creation of the office of U.S. President and explains why the role's duties are hardly touched upon at all in the Constitution.

  • Change the Constitution?: asset-mezzanine-16x9

    Change the Constitution?

    S1 - 1m 7s

    Yale professor Akhil Amar talks about what changes he would, personally, like to see made to the Constitution.

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